Ring-tray.



Patented Oct'. 7, [902.

B. .LENZEN RING TRAY.

` (Appumion am nur. 14, 1902.)

nu.l 710,475.

(No Model.)

Wb-lie ms :mns CQ, Hm mm.. Mmmm C.

FIG. 3.

IINTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

BERTRAM LENZEN, OE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OE ONE- IIAIIF TOGEORGE C. RUEOKERT, OE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

TRAY.

SPEGIFICATXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,475, dated October'7, 1902.

YApplication tiled March 14, 1902. Serial No. 98.139. (No model.)

To r/i/ whom, t moy con/007%:

Be it known that I, BERTRAM LENZEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain newV and useful Improvements inRing-Trays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of trays for holding jewelsconlnu'inly known as ringtrays,77 and has for its object the endscommonly sought in receptacles of such a character-namely, security,facility of action, and a small cost.

To these ends my invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of part-s hereinafter described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, \vherein- Y Figure l is a top plan view of a traywith a portion of the cushion-strips removed; Fig. 2, a verticaltransverse section of the same online m .fr of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a similarview of the same with the locking-strip in disengaged position; Fig. 4,a perspective view of a portion of a locking-strip; Fig. 5, alongitudinal section of a portion ot' the tray on line g/ 1 1/ of Fig.l; Eig. 6, a similar section on line ,e .e of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 detailviews of a modified form of spring mechanism.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views.

My tray consists of a rectangular body A, with upright sides or Walls aa' o," Ct'". The floor of the tray is provided with a parallel series ofchannels l), in which run metallic locking-strips B, somewhat shorterthan the width of the tray, to allow longitudinal movement therein ofsaid locking-strips, whose outer ends pass through openings c in thefront wall of the box and terminate in handles d. Excessive outwardmovement of these strips is prevented by projections e thereon adjacentthe inner face of the wall a. In detail the locking-strip Bis composedof a thin strip of metal having upon its upper face at regular intervalsa series of integral prongs or lingers struck up from the body of thestrip and directed toward its handle and whose points lie in a planeparallel to the plane of the body. A spiral spring g extends across thetray adjacent the inner face of the Wall a and is iixed to the floor ofthe box by pins 7L or other fastening means at its eX- tremities andintermediate each lockingstri p. rlhe stops e are thus intermediate thespring and Wall.

Resting upon the floor of the tray and at. right angles to the directionof the lockingstrips B are a series of contiguous fabric-covered bars i,with ribbed sides to allow spaces ,j for the insertion of rings 7c.'lhesebars have transverse channels l in their lower portions to allowpassage therethrough of the prongs f when the locking-strip is vibrated.The bars 1l cover the entire surface of the tray and are preferablysecured at their eX- tremities hy beveled strips fm, fixed to the wallsof the box.

Then it is desired to insert or Withdraw a ring from ils receptacle, theoperator presses inwardly upon the handle d of the lockingstrip whoseprong corresponds with said ring and against the tension of spring g,Whereupon the engaging prong is forced out of the plane ot' the ring.Upon releasing the handle (l the locking-strip reverts to its originalposition and its prong engages the ring.

It is evident. t hat myinvention may include a spring mechanism such asshown in Fig. 7, where a coil-spring g' bridges the lockingstrip andcontacts with the back of a prong and its coiled terminals n and o,iixed to the floor of the tray. The spiral spring g may, if preferred,traverse the tray transversely to the locking-strip at any other pointthan ad jacent the wali a, provided it contacts with the backs of aseries of the prongs f.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ring-tray, the combination with the tray proper, having a' floorprovided with a series of channels, of locking-strips longitudinallymovable therein, projections on said strips within the tray to preventexcessive outward movement, prongs extending from the upper faces ofsaid strips, a spring disposed at right angles to said strips andbetween which andthe front wall of the tray said projections aredisposed, and bars disposed horizontally and transversely to said stripshaving channels, and spaces for` the insertion of rings, substantiallyas described.

2. In a ring-tray, the combination with a tray, of slidable metalliclocking-strips hav- IOO ing integral prongs extending from the facesthereof, means for retaining the locking-strips within the tray, aseries of bars fixed side by side above the locking-strip and at rightangies thereto and formed with transverse channels to aord clearance forthe prongs, means carried by said bars for retaining them in place and ahorizontal spring attached to the casing upon opposite sides anddisposed transversely to the locking-strips and adapted to engage saidretaining means, substantially as described.

3. In a ring-tray, the combination with a tray, of slidabielocking-strips having prongs, fabric-covered bars within said tray aboveand at right angles to the locking-strips and BERTRAM LENZEN.

Witnesses:

I-IOR'ATIO E. BELLoWs, MARY A. McGovERN.

